Chapter 97: Japan (5)
Chapter 97: Japan (5)
The Korean Branch of the Awakened Association treated Wolyeong with the highest level of hospitality.
One such courtesy was providing a private jet whenever she needed to travel abroad, along with a secluded area to ensure she had minimal contact with others.
The small, Association-owned airport—inaccessible to the general public and strictly off-limits to anyone without high-level clearance—was currently a hive of activity. People moved busily, rushing to prepare a plane for takeoff.
No one had expected Wolyeong to announce her departure so suddenly. However, despite the rush, not a single person complained as they focused on their tasks. They were used to Wolyeong’s sudden movements; this was nothing new.
What was different this time, however, was the news that someone would be accompanying her. This revelation had piqued everyone’s curiosity. Despite the strict confidentiality protocols, rumors inevitably spread among the staff working on-site.
Park Min-woo, the Head of the Korean Branch, was also present, personally waiting for Wolyeong and her mysterious companion. Checking his watch, he muttered to himself.
‘They should be here any moment…’
Wolyeong was never late for an appointment, so Park Min-woo was certain of her imminent arrival. Though he could have waited inside the terminal, he chose to stand outside.
His female secretary took a brief call, then approached him to report.
“The Japanese side says they’ve finished their preparations and are waiting.”
Japan was currently in a desperate situation, with no room to be picky. Consequently, they had accepted all the Korean Branch’s demands, including the condition that Wolyeong would be accompanied by an unidentified Awakener to assist in clearing the dungeons.
From Japan's perspective, one unidentified Awakener wasn't a major concern. They figured that as long as the dungeons were cleared alongside Wolyeong, the identity of a single individual didn't matter much.
Soon, Park Min-woo and the other Association officials spotted Wolyeong. Clad in her usual black robe and face veil, she had approached so stealthily that they only noticed her when she was nearly upon them.
No one knew exactly when she had entered the premises, but suddenly, there she was, walking toward Park Min-woo and his team.
While people acknowledged Wolyeong’s arrival, their gaze quickly shifted to the person following behind her. Like Wolyeong, this individual wore a black robe, but the silhouette suggested they were wearing armor underneath.
A silver helmet covered their face, giving them the appearance of a knight straight out of a movie or a fantasy novel. No one had expected Wolyeong’s companion to be dressed like this, and all eyes were fixed on the figure.
The faint clinking and rattling of metal echoed in the silence, sounding surprisingly loud to the onlookers who were all holding their breath.
Park Min-woo was also momentarily taken aback by the companion’s appearance, but he quickly composed himself to greet Wolyeong.
“Wolyeong-nim, thank you for agreeing to help.”
“I have the capacity to spare, so it’s only natural that I help.”
Wolyeong—or rather, Kang Yujin—answered with uncharacteristic gentleness. Because Han Shin was right behind her, she was making a conscious effort to appear like a "kind person." Normally, she would have ignored the pleasantries and demanded to leave immediately, but she felt the need to maintain her image as a "kind noona" in front of Han Shin.
Park Min-woo was actually quite touched by her response. It was the first time she had spoken so graciously, leading him to believe she truly understood the gravity of the situation and was determined to help. Contrary to Kang Yujin’s actual intentions, Park Min-woo was viewing her in an incredibly positive light.
“Is the person behind you the one traveling with you?”
“Yes. Could we speak privately for a moment?”
At Wolyeong’s request, Park Min-woo immediately signaled for his secretary and the other subordinates to clear the area.
“Let’s talk on the plane.”
Since this was the first time Wolyeong had requested a private conversation, Park Min-woo assumed she had something highly confidential to share and felt a secure space was necessary. It was awkward to go back into the building, and since they needed to leave for Japan anyway, he figured they could save time by talking on board.
“Very well.”
Park Min-woo, Kang Yujin, and Han Shin boarded the plane and entered the cabin where the two would be staying. As soon as the door closed, Wolyeong spoke bluntly.
“The person I brought with me is someone from another world I’ve contracted with through an artifact.”
Park Min-woo was stunned by the mention of an "otherworlder."
In truth, ever since portals began appearing and monsters started emerging, there had been endless debates about where they came from. Researchers had long hypothesized the existence of other worlds and the possibility of eventually making contact with their inhabitants. Park Min-woo, who felt it was his duty to stay informed on all portal-related knowledge, was well-acquainted with these theories and had even read academic papers on the subject.
“So that’s why you asked to keep his identity hidden.”
“Yes. I want to keep this fact a secret as much as possible, which is why I’m only telling you, Director.”
“Ah… thank you for trusting me.”
Park Min-woo felt a surge of pride, believing his past efforts to build rapport with Wolyeong had finally paid off. He glanced again at the person standing behind her. Noting that the figure had remained perfectly still and silent, he asked Wolyeong:
“Does he speak any Earth languages?”
“He can understand, but he cannot speak them.”
“What should we call him?”
“Just call him Knight.”
It was a straightforward name that perfectly matched his appearance.
‘Knight… A knight from another world…’
As Park Min-woo listened and nodded in acceptance, Kang Yujin felt a wave of relief. Initially, she had considered introducing him as her assistant or a fellow Earth Awakener. However, after discussing it with Grace and Laysia, they decided it would be better to introduce him as an otherworlder, just in case Grace or Laysia ever needed to step forward and help in the future.
The plan was a success. If she had claimed he was a regular Earth Awakener, it might have invited more scrutiny, but this explanation seemed to satisfy him.
“I understand. I will keep this strictly confidential.”
“Thank you.”
Park Min-woo now understood why Wolyeong wanted to hide this. It would be difficult for the general public to readily accept the presence of someone from another world. He even wondered if he would have been so accepting if he weren't in his current position.
“Then, I leave it in your hands, Wolyeong-nim.”
As he disembarked, Park Min-woo gave Kang Yujin a final respectful nod and urged her to do her best in Japan. With preparations complete, the plane carrying Han Shin and Kang Yujin took off immediately, heading for Japan.
Their destination was Hokkaido. They planned to clear the dungeons starting from the north and working their way down, which gave them a comfortable margin of safety.
Throughout the flight, Han Shin remained silent. He was concerned that the plane might be bugged and didn't want his voice recorded. For now, he had to play the role of the silent "Knight."
Meanwhile, in Japan, Park Min-woo informed the authorities that Wolyeong had departed with a companion named "Knight" to assist them.
The Japanese officials were initially baffled by the name "Knight." However, those who saw him upon arrival thought the name suited him perfectly and were eager to see how he would fight.
As soon as they landed, Wolyeong headed straight for a portal. The Japanese side assumed Wolyeong and Knight would enter the portal together—a natural assumption.
However, the Japanese Awakeners were thrown into confusion when the two decided to act independently, and Knight suddenly vanished from sight.
‘What is this…?’
“Since the situation is dire, we plan to move separately to clear the dungeons as quickly as possible.”
The Association staff member accompanying Wolyeong broke into a cold sweat as he translated her words. The Japanese Awakeners were still skeptical, but they decided to wait and see the results.
Soon, however, the Japanese Awakeners would witness a phenomenon that made them doubt their own eyes.